Outlet receptacle for centralized vacuum cleaning system



Se t. 23, 198% J. c. HAMRICK 3,453,334

OUTLET RECEPTACLE FOR CENTRALIZED VACUUM CLEANING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 9, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR; JAMEs C. HAMRKLK ATTORNEYS Sept. 23, 1969 J. c. HAMRICK OUTLET ECEPTACLE FOR CENTRALIZED VACUUM CLEANING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 9, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 c HfrWs Q M qZZM ATTORNIY-S Sept. 3, 1969 J. c. HAMRICK 3,468,334

OUTLET RECEPTACLE FOR CENTRALIZED VACUUM CLEANING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 9, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORZ AMEs C. HAMRICK ATTORNEYS Int. Cl. F161 3/16; A47l /31 vs. c1. 131455.23 12 Claims ABSTRACT on THE DISCLOSURE An outlet receptacle adapted for mounting in a building wall and having an angularly extending receptacle body for telescopically receiving therein a vacuum hose extending into a conduit within the building wall, and wherein thebody is arranged for selective'positioning to vary its angular attitude to facilitate connecting the same to the conduit.

The application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 573,707, filed Aug. 19, 1966, and entitled Method and Apparatus for Vacuum Clean- 111g. f 1

This invention relatesto centralized vacuum cleaning systems for residences, sch 1 buildings, industrial buildings and the like, and whic are characterized by suction conduits extending within building walls and to a suction device, and wherein a suctioncleaning hose is stored within one or more of the conduits when it is not being used, and may be extended from the respective conduit or conduits to an'area to be cleaned as desired. More particularly, this invention relates to wall mounted outlet receptacles for centralized vacuum cleaning systems of the above type.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and novel vacuum hose receiving receptable of simple and economical construction which may be easily installed in the aperture of a building wall with an angularly extending elongate tubular body thereof being so constructed and supported as to be selectively positioned to vary its angular attitude for facilitating connection of the body to a corresponding conduit within the building wall.

A more specific object is the provision of a vacuum hose outlet receptacle comprising a face plate adapted to be secured in an aperture of a building wall, and wherein an elongate receptacle body extends from the face plate at an acute angle with one end matingly received within an opening in the face plate and the other end adapted for securement to a conduit extending within the building wall. The receptacle body has a longitudinally extending vacuum hose receiving passage therethrough terminating in an elongate mouth adjacent said one end, the mating relation of said one end of the receptacle body with the opening in the face plate permitting selective positioning of the receptacle body in the opening to vary the angular attitude of the receptacle body for extending in the desired direction from the face plate for facilitating connection to a conduit, and wherein means are provided for removably securing the receptacle body to the face plate.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view of the centralized suction or vacuum cleaning system as it may be installedin a building, but omitting the building Walls,

3,463,334 Patented Sept. 23, 1969 and showing two of the outlet boxes or receptacles of the present invention in association therewith;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of one of the outlet boxes or receptacles shown in FIG- URE 1, and looking at the top, side and rear portions of the receptacle;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through thereceptacle of FIGURE 2, showing the same mounted in a building wall and connected to a suction conduit, with a vacuum hose stored in retracted position'within the conduit and the nozzle of the hose positioned in the receptacle;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing the receptacle cover means or door in open position with a substantial length of the vacuum hose withdrawn from the receptacle and having a piston thereon engaging an annular abutment in the passage of the receptacle;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of the receptacle looking at the right-hand side thereof in FIGURE 3, but showing the receptacle door occupying open position;

FIGURE 6 is a rear or inner elevation of the receptacle as it appears when viewed from within the building wall and looking at the left-hand side of the upper portion of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional plan view through the receptacle taken substantially along line 7--7 of FIGURE 5, but wherein the door occupies closed position.

Referring more specifically to the drawings FIGURE 1 shows a typical pneumatic cleaning installation of the general type disclosed in said copending application Ser. No. 573.707. wherein a plurality of stationary suction or collection conduits 10, 10' communicate by a common collection conduit 11 with source of suction embodied in 1 a central or common, preferably reversible, suction blower unit and dust collector 12. Suction blower unit 12 may be of a type such as is disclosed in said copending application, to which reference is made for a further disclosure.

Suction conduits 10, 10' may extend generally beneath the floor, above the ceiling and/or within other walls of a building, as desired, and their ends remote from suction blower unit 12 have respective outlet boxes or receptacles 13, 13' connected thereto, preferably by means of respective intervening pliable or flexible conduit extensions 14, 14'. Each receptacle 13, 13' embodies the subject matter being claimed in this application and will be particularly described hereinafter.

Although a single flexible vacuum or suction cleaning nose may be used interchangeably in both receptacles 13, 13' and respective conduits 10, 10' a separate hose is shown in each conduit in FIGURE 1. The two hoses are indicated at 15, 15 and are shown in retracted or stored position within the respective receptacles 13, 13' and conduits 10, 10 in FIGURE 1. Both receptacles 13, 13' are constructed of identical components, even though the conduits 10, 10' are largely located respectively below and above in the receptacles 13, 13' in FIGURE 1. Therefore, only receptacle 13 and the hose 15 associated therewith will be described in detail. In FIGURES 3-7, receptacle 13 is shown mounted in an aperture 16 of a hollow building wall 17 which may include suitable frame members or studs 20 to which wall panels 21, 22 are secured and which panels define a space therebetween within which conduit 10, or at least its flexible extension 14 extends. Opening 16 is formed in a wall panel 21. Flexible extension 14 is optional and serves as a convenient means to facilitate connection of conduit 10 to receptacle 13 during installation thereof in wall 17. The internal diameter of extension 14 is greater than that of conduit 10 so extension 14 may be slid over and tightened or otherwise secured againstconduit 10.

In most instances, outlet receptacles are installed in vertical walls. Thus, wall 17 is shown occupying a vertical position. However, receptacle 13 may be positioned in a horizontal or angularly disposed wall, as may be desirable in some instances.

Outlet receptacle 13 comprises a face plate 25 adapted for securement in aperture 16 and having an opening 26 therethrough. An elongate tubular receptacle body 27 extends rearwardly or inwardly from face plate 25 at an acute angle and is adapted for securement of conduit or its extension 14 to the inner end of receptacle body 27. Receptacle body 27 has an outer end portion mating with and fitting within face plate opening 26, with the outer surfaces of face plate 25 and the outer end portion of receptacle body 27, preferably extending in substantially parallel relationship.

Receptacle body 27 is formed with a longitudinally ex tending hose-receiving passage 30 therein terminating in an elongate mouth 31 defined by a continuous peripheral edge at the outer or front end portion of receptacle body 27. The axis of passage 30 extends in a substantially straight line from one end to the other end of said body, and also extends at an acute angle with respect to face plate 25, and preferably is of uniform diameter along the major portion of its length to facilitate movement of flexible vacuum cleaning hose 15 therethrough. The mating relation of the outer end portion of receptacle body 27 with opening 26 in face plate is such as to permit selective positioning of receptacle body 27 in face plate opening 26 to vary the angular attitude of receptacle body 27 for extending in the desired direction from face plate '25 for facilitating connection to the conduit. For example, receptacle body 27 extends downwardly at an acuate angle with respect to face plate 25 in FIGURES 3-7, and as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 2 as would be the case with respect to the extension 14 of conduit 10 extending upwardly to receptacle 13 as shown in FIGURE 1. On the other hand, receptacle body 27 is shown in dotted or phantom lines in FIGURE 2 extending upwardly at an acute or steep angle with respect to face plate 25, as would be the case with respect to conduit 10, its flexible extension 14' and receptacle 13' as arranged in FIGURE 1.

It is important to note that the primary reason why outlet receptacle 13 is so constructed as to permit selective positioning of body 27 relative to face plate 25 is because it is desirable, if notnecessary, that the cover means or door 32 of receptacle 13 always has its pivotal connection with face plate 25 located below the level at which vacuum hose 15 may emerge from receptacle 13 when it is installed in a vertical wall. Otherwise, the door 32 would interfere with the accessibility of the hose 15 at the receptacle 13 and/ or with the extension, retraction and maneuverability of the hose 15. The door 32 will be more fully described hereinafter.

In the illustrated and preferred embodiment of receptacle 13, face plate 25, receptacle body 27 and door 32 are molded from a suitable plastic material, such as synthetic resin, and to facilitate assembling receptacle 13 with the receptacle body 27 occupying the desired angular attitude with respect to face plate 25, the outer end portion of receptacle body 27 may take the form of a laterally projecting marginal flange portion 34 formed integral with body 27 and which encompasses and defines mouth 31 of passage 30. Flange portion 34 may be of elongate polygonal or octagonal configuration, as shown, with its longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of mouth 31. Since passage 30 is preferably substantially circular in cross-section, mouth 31 is shown as being elliptically shaped by virtue of the substantially parallel relationship of the outer surface of face plate 25 and flange portion 34 when receptacle 13 is assembled. It is to be understood, however, that flange portion 34 also may be of elliptical configuration or of other shape without departing from the invention. Face plate opening 26 is preferably of similar configuration to. but slightly larger than, the configuration of flange portion 34 .4 at the outer end of receptacle body 27. It is apparent that elongate mating configuration of flange portion 34 and opening 26 ensures that body 27 may extend in either of two opposite directions at an acute angle relative to face plate 25, and the body 27 then will be restrained against rotation relative to face plate 25 even though these two elements 25, 27 may not, as yet, have been secured together. This greatly facilitates ease in installation of the system and fixes the angular attitude of body 27 in use.

Means are provided for-removably securing receptacle body 27 to face plate 25. Accordingly, the rear extremity of flange portion 34 is provided with a pair of laterally projecting tabs 36 on opposite sides thereof which engage the rear surface of face plate 25 at opposite sides of opening 26 and are fastened to face plate 25 by suitable screws 37. Tabs 36 also serve as limiting means maintaining the outer or front surface of flange portion 34 in substantially parallel relation to the outer surface of face plate 25.

Face plate 25 is preferably elongate with its longitudinal axis extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of face plate opening 26 so as to minimize the space required to accommodate the receptacle. As shown, face plate 25 is of substantially rectangular configuration and provided with an integral peripheral frame 40 projecting outwardly or forwardly from its upper end and its two side portions and also projecting inwardly or rearwardly from both its upper and lower ends and from its two side portions. It should be noted that, regardless of whether or .not flange portion 34 and opening 26 are of similar elongate configuration, tabs 36 may be elongate and located in close proximity to or against the rearwardly projecting side portions of frame 40, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, to further ensure that body 27 may be substantially restrained against rotation relative to face plate 25 while occupying either of the two positions mentioned above and before securing the elements 25, 27 together. The upper and lower inwardly projecting portions of peripheral frame 40 may be beveled or provided with beveled recesses 41 in their central portionsto accommodate the angularly extending receptacle body 27 when its outer end is installed in face plate 25, regardless of whether the receptacle body 27 extends upwardly or downwardly from face plate 25.

The upper portion of face plate 25 may be provided with suitable openings to accommodate a warning device or indicator lamp 43 and a suitable manually operable switch 44 (FIGURES 5 and 6). As disclosed in said copending application, switch 44 is electrically connected to suction blower unit 12 for controlling operation thereof, and warning lamp 43 is connected to switch 44 so as to indicate to the operator whether the suction blower unit 12 is operating.

Cover means or door 32 is provided for closing and sealing the mouth 31 of receptacle body 27 against the flow of air therethrough when the hose 15' in the other receptacle 13' is being used and the vacuum hose 15 is not being used and is fully retracted or stored within receptacle body 27, conduit extension 14 and conduit 10, as shown in FIGURES 1, 3, S and 7. Door 32 is substantially rectangularly shaped and its upper and opposed side edges are formed so as to fit in close proximity to the outwardly extending upper and side portions of frame 40.

The lower portion of door 32 is pivotally connected to the lower portion of face plate 25 by means of a pair of aligned pivot or hinge pins 47 positioned within the lower ends of the side portions of frame 40. It is preferred that a cavity 50 is provided in door 32 in alignment with pivot pins 47 so that a suitable tool may be inserted in cavity 50 for removing pins 47, since there are instances in which the thickness of wall panel 21 may be such as to render pivot pins 47 otherwise inaccessible, as may be necessary in the event the door becomes damaged or defaced in use to such extent that its replacement may be desirable. A flange 51 projects out- 'wardly from the upper end and opposed side edges of door 32 and is engageable with the outwardly projecting upper and side portions of frame 40 so as to limit inward movement of door 32 when it occupies closed position as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 7.

The front or outer upper portion of frame 40 is provided with a suitable keeper 53 (FIGURES 3, 4 and 5), which extends through a slot 54 adjacent the free edge portion of door 32 when the door occupies closed position, and is adapted to be engaged by a suitable toggle latch 55 constituting a releasable latch means for releasably maintaining door 32 in closed position. A resilient sealing member 57 may be adhesively or otherwise secured to the inner surface of door 32.

In order to ensure that resilient sealing member 57 tightly seals mouth 31 of receptacle body 27 against flow of air therethrough when door 32 occupies closed position, it is preferred that the flange portion 34 of receptacle body 27 is slightly thicker than the corresponding portion of face plate 25 immediately surrounding the same so that flange portion 34 projects outwardly a small amount beyond the corresponding portion of face plate 25 to form an impression in sealing member 57 when door 32 occupies closed position.

To facilitate installation of receptacle 13 in wall aperture 16, the inner portion of frame 40 is loosely received in opening 16 and is also aligned with a suitable opening in an angle bracket 60. Opposed side portions of frame 40 are suitably secured, as by fasteners 61 (screws or rivets), to bracket 60. Fasteners 61 extend through laterally projecting tabs 62 formed integral with the innermost portions of the side portions of frame 40.

Angle bracket 60 may be suitably secured to any desired rigid frame member of the building wall such as one of the studs 20. To complete the installation of receptacle 13, a suitable ornamental rectangular facing member 64 may be slid over frame 40 so as to encompass the same and it may be positioned against the outer surface of wall panel 21 to cover any areas of wall opening 16 which may be visible at the sides, top and bottom of frame 40.

Since outlet receptacle 13 would most generally be installed in a substantially vertical wall, as shown, the pivot or hinge point of door 32 then is positioned below mouth 31 of receptacle body 27, and the longitudinal axes of face plate 25, its opening 26, and the flnage portion 34 and mouth 31 of body 27 then extend substantially vertically. The axis of passage 30 in body 27 then also extends substantially Vertically but at an acute angle with respect to face plate 25. Thus, in the particular embodiment, the acute angular relationship between face plate 25 and body 27 is such that body 27 may extend downwardly from face plate 25 or body 27 may be inverted relative to face plate 25 to extend generally upwardlly therefrom depending upon whether the corresponding collection conduit is to extend downwardly or upwardly within wall 17 from the outlet receptacle.

It will be observed in FIGURE 3 that, when receptacle 13 is installed in wall opening 16, the corresponding end of conduit or its extension 14, as the case may be, encircles and is adhesively or otherwise suitably secured to the rear end portion of receptacle body 27. Suitable stops or abutment means 66 may be provided projecting outwardly from receptacle body 27 to aid in properly positioning the corresponding end of the conduit 10 or its extension 14 with respect to receptacle body 27. Receptacle body 27 is provided with an internal abutment means shown in the form of an annular shoulder or abutment 70 whose surface nearest mouth 31 preferably is beveled or tapered as best shown in FIGURES 4 and 3. Additionally, the rear end of passage 30 in receptacle body 27 may be beveled or tapered to facilitate the passage of one or more resilient or flexible pistons on vacuum hose into passage and over the internal annular abutment 70 thereof.

In this instance, the inner portion of vacuum hose 15 is shown provided with two resilient pistons 71, 72 which are spaced a substantial distance apart from each other, with the piston 72 being positioned closely adjacent the innermost end of vacuum hose 15 and the other piston 71 being spaced from piston 72 a distance about equal to the length of flexible conduit extension 14.

Vacuum hose 15 may be extended, either by causing suction blower unit 12 to produce a superatmospheric pressure or blowing air stream in conduit 10' as described in said copending application, or by an operator exerting an outward pulling force on hose 15. Since suction blower unit 12 normally produces suction in conduit 10 while hose 15 is being used for cleaning, possible unintentional retraction of hose 13 under influence of the suction in conduit 10 may be avoided by positioning piston 71 within passage 30 of receptacle body 27 (see FIGURE 4) so that hose 15 is restrained from being retracted by the suction in conduit 10 by engagement of piston 71 with annular abutment 70 in receptacle body 27. While piston 71 occupies the latter position, piston 72 is spaced sufliciently from piston 71 so that it remains within conduit 10, rather than being positioned within the flexible extension 14, which is of larger internal diameter than that of conduit 10 and is also larger than the relaxed external diameter of pistons 71, 72. This ensures that the suction in conduit 10 is effective to retract hose 15 when the operator manually moves piston 71 inwardly of annular abutment 70 on receptacle body 27 and substantially closes vacuum hose 15 to the flow of air therethrough.

The outer end of hose 15 is provided with a nozzle 75 to which conventional suction cleaning implements may be attached in a well-known manner. Nozzle 75 also defines an enlarged portion on vacuum hose 15 which fits within passage 30 of receptacle body 27 and may engage annular abutment 70 to limit the extent of ingress thereof into receptacle body 27 (see FIGURE 3), thus limiting the extent to which vacuum hose 15 may be retracted into conduit 10.

Nozzle 75 may be of the type having a suitable manually operable valve means therein, not shown, which may be closed by the operator for effecting retraction of vacuum hose 15 in the manner heretofore described, when desired. Nozzle 75 and the associated valve means may be of the type disclosed in said copending application and, therefore, a detailed illustration and description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

It is thus seen that I have provided a compact outlet box or receptacle for use with centralized vacuum cleaning systems of the retractable vacuum hose type, which receptacle comprises very few parts which may be interchanged from one receptacle to another, which parts can be readily molded from light-weight plastic materials, such as synthetic resin and are easily installed, and wherein the receptacle body 27 may be easily selectively positioned in the opening of the face plate 25 to vary the angular attitude of the body according to the position of the collection conduit in the building wall.

I claim:

1. An outlet receptacle adapted to be secured in an aperture of a building wall for communicating with a conduit of a vacuum cleaning system extending within the building wall; said receptacle comprising a face plate having an opening therethrough, an elongate receptacle body extending from the face plate at an acute angle with one end matingly received within said face plate opening and the other end adapted for securement to the conduit, said receptacle body having a longitudinally extending vacuum hose receiving passage therethrough terminating in an elongate mouth defined by a continous peripheral edge adjacent said one end, said mating relation of said one end of said receptacle body with the opening in the face plate permitting selective positioning of said receptacle body in the opening to vary the angular attitude of said receptacle body for extending in the desired direction from the face plate for facilitating connection to the conduit, and means removably securing said receptacle body to said face plate.

2. An outlet receptacle according to claim 1, including a removable cover means adapted to close and substantially seal said mouth against flow of air therethrough, and releasable latch means for releasably maintaining said cover means in closed position.

3. An outlet receptacle according to claim 2, in which said cover means comprises a door pivotally connected to said face plate, and resilient sealing means on the inner surface of said door and engageable with said one end portion of said receptacle body while said cover means occupies closed position.

4. An outlet receptacle according to claim 3, including a frame projecting outwardly from at least one end and opposite side portions of said face plate, and wherein the corresponding end edge portions of said door fit within said frame in close proximity to the end and opposite side portions of said frame.

5. An outlet receptacle according to claim 1, wherein an inwardly projecting abutment is provided on the inner surface of said receptacle body within said passage and adjacent said other end of said body, said abutment being adapted for engagement by an enlarged portion on said vacuum hose limiting its extent of ingress into said passage when the hose is stored in the conduit.

6. An outlet receptacle according to claim 1, in which said face plate is elongate and wherein the longitudinal axes of said face plate and said elongate mouth extend in substantially parallel relationship and wherein said one end of said receptacle body and the opening in said face plate are of elongate form with their longitudnial axes extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said face plate and said mouth.

7. An outlet receptacle according to claim 1, including a flange portion on said one end of said receptacle body and engageable with the inner surface of said face plate, and said means securing said body to said face plate comprising fastening members connecting said flange portion to said face plate.

8. An outlet receptacle according to claim 1, wherein said face plate and its opening are elongate and are adapted to normally be positioned with their longitudinal axes extending vertically and substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said mouth of said receptacle body, a door pivotally connected to said face plate adapted for movement about a substantially horizontal axis below said mouth, said door being adapted to close and substantially seal said mouth against flow of air therethrough, and the acute angular position of said receptacle body being such with respect to the mating relationship between said body and said face plate opening that said body may extend downwardly from said face plate and may be inverted relative to said face plate to extend upwardly therefrom depending upon whether the conduit to which it is adapted to be connected extends downwardly or upwardly from the receptacle.

9. An outlet receptacle adapted to be secured in an aperture of a building wall for communicating with a conduit of a vacuum cleaning system extending within the bulding wall; said receptacle comprising of a face plate of molded plastic material having an opening therethrough, an elongate receptacle body of molded plastic material extending from the face plate at an acute angle with one end matingly received within said face plate opening and the other end adapted for securment to the conduit, said receptacle body having a longitudinally extending vacuum hose receiving passage therethrough terminating in an elongate mouth defined by a continuous peripheral edge adjacent said one end, a marginal portion on said receptacle body encompassing said mouth and projecting outwardly with respect to immediately surrounding portions of said face plate, cover means pivotally mounted on said face plate and having a resilient member thereon engageable with said marginal portion of said receptacle body when said cover means occupies a closed position overlying said face plate to seal said mouth against airflow therethrough, said mating relation of said one end of said receptacle body with the opening in said face plate permitting selective positioning of said receptacle body in the opening to vary the angular attitude of said receptacle body for extending in the desired direction from the face plate for facilitating connection to the conduit, and means removably securing said receptacle body to said face plate.

10. An outlet receptacle according to claim 9, wherein said face plate and its opening are elongate and are adapted normally to be positioned with their longitudinal axes extended vertically and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mouth of said receptacle body, wherein the pivotal axis of said cover means is adapted to extend horizontally below said mouth, and wherein the acute angular position of said receptacle body is such with respect to the mating relationship between said body and said face plate opening that said body may extend downwardly from said face plate and may be inverted relative to said face plate to extend upwardly therefrom depending upon whether the conduit to which it is adapted to be connected extends downwardly or upwardly from the receptacle.

11. An outlet receptacle according to claim 10, wherein said marginal portion is formed integral with said body, and said mating relationship between said body and said face plate opening is such as to prevent relative rotational :movement therebet-ween when said body extends downwardly from said face plate or when it is inverted to extend upwardly from said face place.

12. An outlet receptacle according to claim 9, in which the axis of said vacuum hose receiving passage extends in a substantially straight line from said one end to said other end of said receptacle body to facilitate passage of a vacuum hose therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 980,418 1/1911 Hope 137-360 X 1,810,607 6/1931 Irons l53l3 2,101,311 12/1937 Duncan 285189 XR 2,874,980 2/1959 Browning 285-489 2,953,806 9/1960 Walker 15-315 3,291,927 12/ 1966 Riley et al 137-360 XR HENRY T. KLINKSIEK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

P0405 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,468,334 Dated September 23, 1969 Inventofls) James C Hamrick It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, Line 46, "flnage" should be --flange--. Column 6, Line 15, the number '13" should be --15--. Column 7, Line 19, after "portions" insert --and opposite side edge portions--. Column 7, Line 63, "bulding" should be --building-. Column 8, Line 45, "place" should be --plate--.

SIGNED AND SEALED (SEAL) Atteat:

WILLIAM E. 50mm, m-

Auostin Officer flomissioner of Patent! 

